In describing the development of second language writing (L2W) studies, I will (1) stipulate a definition of L2W; (2) examine trends in the development of L2W decade by decade from 1950 to the present'by looking at the numbers and areas of focus of the relevant publicly available documents, by mentioning important contributors to the field, and by examining such issues as theory, inquiry paradigms, types of inquiry (empirical and hermeneutic), instructional practices, and the creation of infrastructure; (3) assess the current status of L2W studies around the globe; (4) provide a description of the current status of L2W as an incipient discipline; (5) speculate on the future of L2W studies; and (6) provide a list of resources for further inquiry.